Eritrea

Diverse, culturally rich, blessed with beautiful scenery and off-the-beaten-track, the north-east African country of Eritrea has much to offer adventurous travellers.

Capital city Asmara is a charming, heady mix of Italian colonial buildings such as the ornate St. Joseph’s Cathedral, modernist architecture and stunning art deco structures, including the city’s elegant Opera House. Buzzing Medebar Market is a hive of activity, where absolutely everything is repurposed and upcycled. Just outside the city lies the poignant Tank Graveyard, a chaotic memorial to the country’s recent conflicts.

On the country’s Red Sea coast, the port city of Massawa fuses historic Ottoman, Egyptian and Italian influences to create a melting pot of architectural styles. Head to its photogenic Old Quarter, the majestic Imperial Palace which overlooks Massawa’s harbour, discover the Sheikh Hanafi Mosque, which at over 500 years old is one of the city’s most historic buildings, or relax by snorkelling on the beaches of nearby Green Island. The town of Karen is home to a sprawling livestock market, famous for the many caravans of camels which throng its lower terraces. See prehistoric rock art in Debub, austere volcanic desert in Dankalia, or explore the ancient ruins of Qohaito. Off the country’s coast, the Dahlak archipelago offers snorkelling and diving opportunities over the coral reefs which ring its remote islands.